Union electricians vote to authorize strike

About 1,700 electricians in the East Metro are poised to strike if negotiations between their union and members of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) do not progress in the coming weeks.

The contractors’ last proposal included modest annual wage increases in each of the three years. The raises were barely large enough, however, to cover the rising cost of members’ health insurance premiums, according to the union.

In the first year of the contract, employers are offering to increase hourly wages by 90 cents. That sounds good, Local 110 Business Manager Jamie McNamara said, “but the rub is our medical plan needs about 80 cents of that, plus the fact is we haven’t had a raise for two years.”

The union is seeking a raise of $1.75 per hour in the first year of the contract, with 10-cent increases in each of the next two years.

McNamara said Local 110 is preparing for the worst, but hopeful the two sides can find common ground.